Alpha - Forever #1 (Complete)

Chapter 9 - Part 1

Scarlett

I was still half asleep when I pulled my robe on and tied it around my waist. I slipped my feet into my slippers, thankful Gary had remembered to pack them. Coffee was the only thing I could think about as I left my room in search of my first caffeine fix.

The rich aroma hit me and I followed it to the kitchen.

"Morning," Cade greeted me cheerfully from the counter he was sitting at.

"Morning," I muttered, trying to stop myself from killing him with my death glare. I was grumpy as hell until I had caffeine running through my veins.

"Aren't you just a ray of sunshine first thing in the morning," he observed as I just turned and let my ice cold gaze sweep over him. He didn't get the message because he kept smiling.

I wanted to smack the smile off his face, but that would involve touching him, which I was avoiding at the moment. Would he find it strange if I covered my hand with a glove to slap him? It sounded so appealing, it made me smile secretly to myself.

A stronger whiff of the coffee pulled me out of my planning and I shuffled to the machine. I took one of the cups beside the machine and poured myself some.

I took a deep sniff of it and sighed before I took a tentative sip.

Yummy.

I turned to face Cade and leaned against the counter.

He didn't have a shirt on again. What was with this guy and going shirtless? Most girls wouldn't complain, they would just enjoy the view, but seeing him half naked just set off that familiar feeling inside my stomach. I liked to be in control and around him, I wasn't. My body's reaction went against any logical reasoning I could muster.

Then there was that other problem that he was my mate, he was meant to be my life-long partner. I couldn't help but wonder if my attraction to him had anything to do with him being my mate, even though we hadn't touched yet?

"Don't you own enough shirts?" I asked as I took another sip of my coffee.

"Does it make you uncomfortable? Most girls don't complain," he said with a smirk.

Can't slap him, I kept chanting in my head as I felt my temper start to rise.

"I'm not most girls," I muttered as I held his gaze.

I had to remember to try and be nice to him as hard as it was going to be. He was helping me by letting me stay at his house and I needed to appreciate it no matter how much I wanted to slap him or bring him down a peg or two.

He got up and walked to the coffee machine beside me. As much as I wanted to stay where I was, I moved away because I couldn't chance him touching me by accident. I wasn't ready to deal with a possessive mate just yet. Deep down I knew I couldn't avoid it for long, but I needed some time to get my head around it.

He smiled at the action. He probably thought I moved because he made me feel uncomfortable and he liked the fact that his presence affected me.

"You scared I'm going to bite you?" he said in a seductive tone as his eyes traveled over me appreciatively. I bet he used that line a lot.

"Who says I won't bite back?" I retorted.

"I don't mind," he teased with a smile as his eyes held mine.

"Does that line ever work?" I asked, annoyed.

"I don't have to use lines," he assured me with a satisfied grin.

He was probably right. I could see the girls falling at his feet without him having to utter a word. I was pretty sure one look from him would do it.

Can't slap him, I told myself again. It was going to be harder than I'd first thought as I clutched the coffee mug tightly in my hands to stop me from doing something I would regret.